Planetary wheel drive brake

Abstract

A planetary wheel drive uses a brake having a stamped spring plate which includes a plurality of spring stabilizer connections. Each one of the plurality of springs is mechanically bonded to a respective one of the plurality of spring stabilizer connections. A brake piston includes a bore therethrough and resides in sliding engagement with the stationary spindle. The brake piston is generally cylindrically shaped with an inner portion and an outer portion. The plurality of coil springs reside between said spring stabilizers and said inner shoulder of said brake piston. Pressurized hydraulic fluid releases the brake.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A planetary wheel drive, comprising:
 a stationary spindle; 
 a stamped spring plate; 
 said stamped spring plate includes a plurality of spring stabilizer connections; 
 a plurality of coil springs; 
 each one of said plurality of springs mechanically bonded to a respective one of said plurality of spring stabilizers; 
 a brake piston; 
 said brake piston includes a bore therethrough; 
 said brake piston is generally cylindrically shaped with an inner portion and an outer portion; 
 said inner portion of said brake piston includes an inner shoulder therein; 
 said brake piston resides in sliding engagement with said stationary spindle; and, 
 said plurality of coil springs reside between said spring stabilizers and said inner shoulder of said brake piston. 
 
     
     
       2. A planetary wheel drive as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a pressure plate; 
 a retainer in said stationary spindle; 
 said retainer secures said pressure plate within said stationary spindle; 
 said brake piston includes a first end and a second end; and, 
 said stamped spring plate engages said pressure plate. 
 
     
     
       3. A planetary wheel drive as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising:
 a rotatable drive coupling; 
 a brake friction pack; and, 
 a friction pack thrust plate, said friction pack thrust plate secured in said stationary spindle. 
 
     
     
       4. A planetary wheel drive as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 said brake friction pack includes rotors; 
 said rotors are affixed to said rotatable drive coupling and rotate therewith; 
 said brake friction pack includes a stator; and, 
 said stator of said brake friction pack is affixed to said stationary spindle. 
 
     
     
       5. A planetary wheel drive as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 said first end of said brake piston engages said stators and forcibly compresses said stators into engagement with said rotors and against said friction pack thrust plate secured in said stationary spindle. 
 
     
     
       6. A planetary wheel drive as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 said stationary spindle includes a passageway therein; 
 said shoulder of said stationary spindle and said brake piston form a piston chamber; 
 said piston chamber in communication with said passageway in said stationary spindle; 
 hydraulic fluid resides in said piston chamber and in said passageway in said stationary spindle; 
 said brake friction pack is not in compression when said hydraulic fluid is pressurized and said coupling is free to rotate; 
 said brake friction pack is in compression when said hydraulic fluid is not pressurized and said coupling is fixed to said stationary spindle. 
 
     
     
       7. A planetary wheel drive as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said mechanical bonding of said springs to said spring stabilizers is a process that wedges or swells the last coil of the spring over the spring stabilizers.